Cardiovascular

A new oral anticoagulant hits the market

Pradaxa gives clinicians a new tool for preventing strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. Learn how it works, who’s eligible to receive it, and how…

A woman’s worst enemy

Most women woefully underestimate their risk for heart disease. Although breast cancer gets more publicity, heart disease and stroke kill nearly 12 times as many American women. This…

Advances in blood transfusion

Ongoing research, development, and vigilance initiatives are designed to make blood components safer and more easily available.
arrhythmogenic-cardiomyopathy

An overview of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a description given to various rare conditions that can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias in the absence of ischemic, hypertensive, or valvular heart disease.

Anatomy lesson 101

ANA’s National Center for Nursing Quality promotes nursing quality and patient safety while helping nurses advocate for themselves.

Are you prepared for malaria?

Global traveling brings about 1,000 cases of malaria to this country each year. Don’t be caught off guard if you encounter it in your practice.

Benefits of exercise training in heart failure

Exercise training reduces the risk for subsequent all-cause mortality or all-cause hospitalization in women by 26%, compared with 10% in men, according to a study in JACC: Heart…

Blood pressure management guideline released

JAMA has published “2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: Report From the Panel Members Appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC…

Celiac disease linked to increased risk for CAD

People with celiac disease may have a nearly twofold increased risk of coronary artery disease compared with the general population, according to research to be presented at the…

Coffee drinking and arrhythmias

Coffee drinkers are less likely to be hospitalized for cardiac arrhythmias, according to a report presented at the American Heart Association’s 50th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology…

Detecting cardiac injury with telemetry

With multi-lead telemetry monitoring, a nurse detects dangerous changes in her patient’s heart rhythm, permitting quick action before an acute MI does permanent damage.

Does your workplace culture need CPR?

If you suspect your workplace culture is “ill,” assessment is a crucial first step. Using an established assessment tool can help ensure more thorough data collection.

Drugs Today – November 2008

Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.

Exercise is key part of stroke recovery

Exercise should be prescribed for stroke survivors because it can significantly reduce disability and the risk of recurrent stroke, according to “Physical Activity and Exercise Recommendations for Stroke…

FDA issues safety communication for HeartStart AEDs

On Nov. 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication stating that certain HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) devices made by Philips Medical Systems,…

Four new guidelines from AHA, ACC

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have released four guidelines related to preventing cardiovascular disease: cholesterol, obesity, lifestyle, assessment of cardiovascular risk. Read more.
cpr cardiopulmonary resuscitation

From your ANA President

As healthcare professionals, we all know CPR to mean “cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” and we have all been trained in how to perform it. But CPR also has another important…

Get Savvy to syncope

Syncope is a common occurrence and is commonly benign. But sometimes a swoon signals a serious underlying condition. Learn what causes syncope and how to assess and intervene…

HAART and its effects on the heart

Many patients with HIV/AIDS are doing well on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet HAART can increase cardiovascular risks by reducing high-density lipoprotein levels, raising triglyceride levels, and…

Halting postpartum hemorrhage

When excessive blood loss during delivery threatens a mother’s life, quick assessment, effective interventions, and expert aid from the rapid response team maneuver her postpartum course back onto…

Helping patients survive sepsis

In its early stages, sepsis can be difficult to detect. Learn about the sometimes-subtle signs and symptoms.

Hospital-acquired infections mortalities, costs

Two common conditions caused by hospital-acquired infections killed 48,000 people and ramped up health care costs by $8.1 billion in 2006 alone, according to a study released Feb.…
How to recognize and respond to hypovolemic shock

How to recognize and respond to hypovolemic shock

Fluid loss…poor tissue perfusion…oxygen deprivation…acidosis…multisystem organ failure. Unless interrupted, the scary chain of events in hypovolemic shock leads to death. Learn how to hault this perilous process with…

Improving the care of stroke patients

Is your facility doing enough to help stroke patients survive and regain functional independence? Find out how a national evidence-based initiative helps hospitals deliver better stroke care.

Letters to the Editor – July 2008

Sacred cows and road runners American Nurse Today is one of the few publications I look forward to receiving, and I read it from cover to cover. It…

Making resolutions, making meaningful changes

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? If so, how’s your resolve holding up? According to researchers, after 1 month, 75% of resolutions are being kept. The number…

Managing acute decompensated heart failure

Patients with stable chronic heart failure may suddenly start decompensating. Do you know how to recognize this condition and help avert organ failure?

Our Readers Respond

Overcoming the fear of floating “Tips for floaters” (March 2010) accurately described the floater’s dilemma. By showing both sides of the coin—the floater’s and the staff nurses’ on…

PA catheter controversy

Standard of care in the ICU – or object of overuse, abuse, and misuse? The authors explain why they believe PA catheter use may harm more critically ill…

Pediatric stroke

Learn more about this rare but dangerous condition.

Peril on Periphery

Peripheral arterial disease is all too common – and all too often goes unrecognized.

Putting the breaks on pulmonary edema

I.V. fluids should help a dehydrated patient, but for one with a history of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, they could contribute to pulmonary edema. For Grace…

Quiz Time

A goal of the induction phase of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is to: a. quickly warm the patient to target body temperature. b. slowly cool the patient…
Hypertensive

Responding to a hypertensive crisis

Clifton Jones, an African-American male aged 59, comes to the emergency department (ED) complaining of headache and blurred vision. After the triage nurse measures his blood pressure (BP)…

Right-sided heart failure

Right-sided heart failure (HF) doesn’t get the attention that left-sided HF receives, but it’s an important factor in HF symptom severity and mortality. Right-sided HF, which can cause…

Seeing Red

American Heart Month is a time to celebrate the wealth of information that if acted on, can help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Shhhhhh! Quiet zone

Nurses play a significant role in helping patients to get the sleep they need.

Stemming a lethal immunologic response

When a patient shows signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, her survival hinges on the nurse’s expert assessment skills and the clinical team’s swift interventions.

Stopping a downward spiral

For a patient with chronic heart failure, failure to take prescribed diuretics triggers a perilous chain of events

Study: Atrial fib hospitalizations, costs soar in U.S.

U.S. hospitalizations and costs of care for atrial fibrillation nearly doubled from 1998 to 2010, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013. Read…

Study: Decreased sepsis mortality

A study published by Critical Care Medicine reports that in-hospital mortality rates for sepsis decreased from 47% between 1991 and 1995 to 29% between 2006 and 2009, a…

Study: Fatigue common in CHD

A study in Nursing Research found that 40% of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) reported fatigue more than 3 days a week lasting more than one…
SWAT nursing specialty

SWAT nursing: A unique specialty

What does SWAT stand for? So Where Are They? Smart, Witty, and Talented? Smiling, Willing, Able, Technical? (more…)

Take Note

2/11/10 Three steps to lower childhood obesity Preschool children who do one or more of the following have a lower risk for obesity, according to a study of…
fall falling high risk

Take Note – April 2008

Pam Cipriano to receive ANA’s Distinguished Member Award American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, will receive the Distinguished Member Award from the American Nurses Association…
estrogen women woman note

Take Note – August 2007

Good news for younger women taking estrogen     Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study from the Women’s Health…

Take Note – August 2008

Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com
ibuprofen medication meds pills pill

Take Note – December 2006

CDC recommends HIV screening for everyone New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for all patients…
colonoscopy cancer note nurse healthcare

Take Note – December 2007

Previous pneumonia vaccination reduces ICU admissions Among adults hospitalized for pneumonia, those who’ve been vaccinated against the disease are less likely than unvaccinated patients to require admission to…
cpr family friend note

Take Note – February 2007

Low-carb diets don’t affect cardiac risk Although diets low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins have been popular for the last few years, some experts have…
lymes disease tick

Take Note – January 2007

Controversy over new Lyme disease guidelines The new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) have run into some criticism. In fact, the International Lyme…
type 2 diabetes

Take Note – July 2007

On-line video-based course on emergency preparedness   The need for better coordination between governmental agencies and hospitals became apparent after 9/11 and again after Hurricane Katrina. To fill this…
kid eating healthy child girl veggies vegetable

Take Note – July 2008

Measles outbreak       Between January 1 and April 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of 64 measles cases in nine states—the highest number for the…
exercise child children kid obesity

Take Note – June 2008

Failure to rescue is most common safety mistake in hospitals       HealthGrades’ fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study found that failure to rescue and other patient safety…
alzheimer disease brain testing

Take Note – March 2007

Previous hospital-room occupants may spread MRSA and VRE The risk of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections increases if the prior hospital-room occupant tested…
std teenage women girl

Take Note – May 2008

One in four U.S. teenage girls has an STD According to a recent federal study, one in four American teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease (STD), even…
depression effects health black white note

Take Note – November 2007

Medical illiteracy can kill A 6-year study of 3,260 patients ages 65 and older found that almost 40% of those considered medically illiterate died during the study. Only…
washing wash hands hygiene note

Take Note – October 2007

Medicare to stop reimbursing hospitals for eight preventable conditions Medicare will stop paying hospitals for the extra costs of treating eight conditions stemming from preventable errors—falls, pressure ulcers,…

Taking the ICU to the Patient

How one rapid response team prevents cardiac arrest and provides other life-saving benefits outside the ICU.

The beat goes on: A pacemaker primer

With the growing use of cardiac pacemakers, it’s time to refresh your knowledge of pacemaker basics. This article describes types of pacemakers, reviews pacemaker codes, and helps you…

Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

Until recently, the outlook for patients who remained comatose after cardiac arrest was dire. But therapeutic hypothermia is turning the tide. Learn the facts about this life-saving approach.

Vagus nerve stimulation may reduce HF symptoms

A global, multicenter randomized clinical trial called INOVATE-HF (INcrease Of VAgal TonE in chronic Heart Failure) is investigating the safety and efficacy of an implantable vagus nerve electrical…
heart

What’s the latest on lipoproteins

A new lab technique called segmented gradient gel electrophoresis identifies subclasses of cholesterol and more precisely predicts your patient’s cardiac risk.

When all signs point to long QT syndrome

A patient’s brief loss of consciousness leads to discovery of long QT syndrome. By thinking fast and making all the right moves, you can stave off the threat…

WHO releases new hepatitis C guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released “Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection.” Access the guidelines.

A woman’s worst enemy

Most women woefully underestimate their risk for heart disease. Although breast cancer gets more publicity, heart disease and stroke kill nearly 12 times as…

Advances in blood transfusion

Ongoing research, development, and vigilance initiatives are designed to make blood components safer and more easily available.
arrhythmogenic-cardiomyopathy

An overview of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a description given to various rare conditions that can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias in the absence of ischemic, hypertensive, or…

Anatomy lesson 101

ANA’s National Center for Nursing Quality promotes nursing quality and patient safety while helping nurses advocate for themselves.

Are you prepared for malaria?

Global traveling brings about 1,000 cases of malaria to this country each year. Don’t be caught off guard if you encounter it in your…

Coffee drinking and arrhythmias

Coffee drinkers are less likely to be hospitalized for cardiac arrhythmias, according to a report presented at the American Heart Association’s 50th Annual Conference…

Detecting cardiac injury with telemetry

With multi-lead telemetry monitoring, a nurse detects dangerous changes in her patient’s heart rhythm, permitting quick action before an acute MI does permanent damage.

Does your workplace culture need CPR?

If you suspect your workplace culture is “ill,” assessment is a crucial first step. Using an established assessment tool can help ensure more thorough…

Drugs Today – November 2008

Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.

Exercise is key part of stroke recovery

Exercise should be prescribed for stroke survivors because it can significantly reduce disability and the risk of recurrent stroke, according to “Physical Activity and…

Four new guidelines from AHA, ACC

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have released four guidelines related to preventing cardiovascular disease: cholesterol, obesity, lifestyle, assessment of…
cpr cardiopulmonary resuscitation

From your ANA President

As healthcare professionals, we all know CPR to mean “cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” and we have all been trained in how to perform it. But CPR…

Get Savvy to syncope

Syncope is a common occurrence and is commonly benign. But sometimes a swoon signals a serious underlying condition. Learn what causes syncope and how…

HAART and its effects on the heart

Many patients with HIV/AIDS are doing well on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Yet HAART can increase cardiovascular risks by reducing high-density lipoprotein levels,…

Halting postpartum hemorrhage

When excessive blood loss during delivery threatens a mother’s life, quick assessment, effective interventions, and expert aid from the rapid response team maneuver her…
How to recognize and respond to hypovolemic shock

How to recognize and respond to hypovolemic shock

Fluid loss…poor tissue perfusion…oxygen deprivation…acidosis…multisystem organ failure. Unless interrupted, the scary chain of events in hypovolemic shock leads to death. Learn how to hault…

Improving the care of stroke patients

Is your facility doing enough to help stroke patients survive and regain functional independence? Find out how a national evidence-based initiative helps hospitals deliver better…

Our Readers Respond

Overcoming the fear of floating “Tips for floaters” (March 2010) accurately described the floater’s dilemma. By showing both sides of the coin—the floater’s and…

PA catheter controversy

Standard of care in the ICU – or object of overuse, abuse, and misuse? The authors explain why they believe PA catheter use may…

Peril on Periphery

Peripheral arterial disease is all too common – and all too often goes unrecognized.

Putting the breaks on pulmonary edema

I.V. fluids should help a dehydrated patient, but for one with a history of atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, they could contribute to…

Quiz Time

A goal of the induction phase of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is to: a. quickly warm the patient to target body temperature. b.…
Hypertensive

Responding to a hypertensive crisis

Clifton Jones, an African-American male aged 59, comes to the emergency department (ED) complaining of headache and blurred vision. After the triage nurse measures…

Right-sided heart failure

Right-sided heart failure (HF) doesn’t get the attention that left-sided HF receives, but it’s an important factor in HF symptom severity and mortality. Right-sided…

Seeing Red

American Heart Month is a time to celebrate the wealth of information that if acted on, can help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Shhhhhh! Quiet zone

Nurses play a significant role in helping patients to get the sleep they need.

Stemming a lethal immunologic response

When a patient shows signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, her survival hinges on the nurse’s expert assessment skills and the clinical team’s swift…

Stopping a downward spiral

For a patient with chronic heart failure, failure to take prescribed diuretics triggers a perilous chain of events

Study: Decreased sepsis mortality

A study published by Critical Care Medicine reports that in-hospital mortality rates for sepsis decreased from 47% between 1991 and 1995 to 29% between…

Study: Fatigue common in CHD

A study in Nursing Research found that 40% of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) reported fatigue more than 3 days a week…

Take Note

2/11/10 Three steps to lower childhood obesity Preschool children who do one or more of the following have a lower risk for obesity, according…
fall falling high risk

Take Note – April 2008

Pam Cipriano to receive ANA’s Distinguished Member Award American Nurse Today Editor-in-Chief Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, will receive the Distinguished Member Award from…
estrogen women woman note

Take Note – August 2007

Good news for younger women taking estrogen     Estrogen therapy may have cardioprotective effects for women who start taking it in their 50s. A study…

Take Note – August 2008

Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com
ibuprofen medication meds pills pill

Take Note – December 2006

CDC recommends HIV screening for everyone New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)…
colonoscopy cancer note nurse healthcare

Take Note – December 2007

Previous pneumonia vaccination reduces ICU admissions Among adults hospitalized for pneumonia, those who’ve been vaccinated against the disease are less likely than unvaccinated patients…
cpr family friend note

Take Note – February 2007

Low-carb diets don’t affect cardiac risk Although diets low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins have been popular for the last few…
lymes disease tick

Take Note – January 2007

Controversy over new Lyme disease guidelines The new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) have run into some criticism. In…
type 2 diabetes

Take Note – July 2007

On-line video-based course on emergency preparedness   The need for better coordination between governmental agencies and hospitals became apparent after 9/11 and again after Hurricane…
kid eating healthy child girl veggies vegetable

Take Note – July 2008

Measles outbreak       Between January 1 and April 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of 64 measles cases in nine states—the…
exercise child children kid obesity

Take Note – June 2008

Failure to rescue is most common safety mistake in hospitals       HealthGrades’ fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study found that failure to rescue…
alzheimer disease brain testing

Take Note – March 2007

Previous hospital-room occupants may spread MRSA and VRE The risk of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections increases if the…
std teenage women girl

Take Note – May 2008

One in four U.S. teenage girls has an STD According to a recent federal study, one in four American teenage girls has a sexually…
depression effects health black white note

Take Note – November 2007

Medical illiteracy can kill A 6-year study of 3,260 patients ages 65 and older found that almost 40% of those considered medically illiterate died…
washing wash hands hygiene note

Take Note – October 2007

Medicare to stop reimbursing hospitals for eight preventable conditions Medicare will stop paying hospitals for the extra costs of treating eight conditions stemming from…

The beat goes on: A pacemaker primer

With the growing use of cardiac pacemakers, it’s time to refresh your knowledge of pacemaker basics. This article describes types of pacemakers, reviews pacemaker…
heart

What’s the latest on lipoproteins

A new lab technique called segmented gradient gel electrophoresis identifies subclasses of cholesterol and more precisely predicts your patient’s cardiac risk.

WHO releases new hepatitis C guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released “Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection.” Access the guidelines.

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